Quick return to work after pressure injury surgery in a person with paraplegia: A case report

BACKGROUND: Pressure injuries (PI) are a frequent and disabling complication in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), often prolonging hospitalization, prolonged immobility, and delayed reintegration. While surgical closure remains a mainstay for chronic pressure injuries, rapid postoperative mobilization and return to work remain uncommon in clinical practice. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: A private hospital in South India. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 28-year-old male with traumatic T5 AIS-A paraplegia who presented with a right ischial pressure injury, which was managed surgically with debridement and direct closure under general anesthesia. Graded hip flexion was initiated on postoperative day 5, and the patient returned to work on postoperative day 9, highlighting the benefits of an accelerated rehabilitation approach. There was no wound dehiscence or recurrence at follow-up. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates the feasibility of early wheelchair mobilization and vocational reintegration following timely surgical management of pressure injuries in young individuals with SCI. This approach may significantly improve functional outcomes in selected patients with SCI.